Programmable thermostat incorporating a liquid crystal display and having a feature for mounting horizontally, vertically and any intermediate orientation

Abstract

A programmable thermostat having a touch screen dot matrix LCD in which the pictorial presenting information and virtual buttons on the touch screen is user configurable to be correctly oriented whether the thermostat is mounted horizontally or vertically.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 060,768 filed Jan. 30, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,069. This application is related to: co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 654,255 entitled “Programmable Thermostat Incorporating a Liquid Crystal Display Selectively Presenting Adaptable System Menus Including Changeable Interactive Virtual Buttons” by Howard B. Rosen, filed on even date herewith; and U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 654,236, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,421, entitled “Programmable Thermostat Including a Feature for providing a Running Total for the Cost of Energy Consumed During a Given Period for Heating and / or Cooling a Conditioned Space” by Howard B. Rosen, filed on even date herewith.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a programmable thermostat incorporating an interactive liquid crystal display (LCD), and, more particularly, to such a thermostat which includes a fe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]A program stored in the memory directs the central processing unit to communicate through the input / output unit to selectively: establish on the LCD a representation of at least one virtual button at a predetermined XY position; read the same XY position on the touch pad to determine if the virtual button has been touched; and if the virtual button has been touched, perform a predetermined action such as moving to a different menu and / or changing operating criteria. An alphanumeric message explaining the function of the virtual button is also displayed, and icon indicators may be employed to unmistakably associate a message with a virtual button. Different menus can place the virtual buttons and messages in various positions on the touch screen to facilitate intuitive programming.

Problems solved by technology

This limited use of dot matrix LCDs in programmable thermostats is because of basic engineering and practical considerations.

Thus, dot matrix LCDs have not been widely used in prior art user programmable thermostats through a failure to understand an extended functionality capability of those devices when dot matrix LCDs are employed with a touch pad to effect an interactive display.

Images